Disability Monitor Initiative Middle East
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© CBM
Ali (7) doing exercises with a ball. Ali has spina bifida and is attending school in the Al Hussein Society in Amman, supported by CBM
The Disability Monitor Initiative Middle East (DMI) is a regional advocacy and awareness-raising initiative project developed by CBM in partnership with Handicap International and other local and regional stakeholders.
Beginnings
Founded on the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) DMI’s aim is to gather and share information about good practice and social innovation in the Middle East region, advocate for the implementation of the UN Convention and enable governments, Disabled Peoples’ Organisations and service providers to work together to achieve the full inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.
Project Context
Despite many reports and research in the Middle East, systematic information and research on disability issues and the situation of Persons with Disabilities is largely absent. When information does exist, it is often fragmented, incomplete and does not give an accurate picture of the lives of persons with disabilities.
Although some research exists on social and economic life, rights, inclusion and primary statistics in the Middle Eastern countries, there is a general lack of comprehensive information, follow-up and networking of stakeholders regarding Persons with Disabilities.
In some countries information on numbers, types and services for Persons with Disabilities is held and presented in such a way that it is extremely challenging for international and local organisations to obtain a clear and representative picture of the situation regarding the lives of persons with disability.
Documentation regarding disability related policies and practices is generally poor and, if any, is mostly focused on legislative matters.
Clearly, this presents a challenge for policy makers attempting to develop policies that meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
This also presents a challenge for disabled persons organisations (DPOs), international NGOs activists and service providers who wish to improve the lives of persons with disability and to advocate for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
For many Middle Eastern countries, inclusion of persons with disabilities into existing and new policy is uncharted ground and disability policies in terms of human rights and the implementation of the convention either does not exist or is only just beginning to be developed.
The Disability Monitor Initiative (DMI) is a successful regional initiative which has, since 2008, brought together civil society and governments in the Middle East to identify and use good practices to influence policy change. Its aim is to work toward the implementation of international law from the bottom-up; to support local actors assist policy makers to make change through the collection and dissemination of good practices.
The DMI involves activities related to information collection, documentation and knowledge management as well as dissemination, education and advocacy. The knowledge and information gathered in the Middle East will be shared with others globally and actors in the region will also have the opportunity to learn from others around the world through activities such as presenting the DMI at the launch of the MIW Initiative at the 2nd Conference of States Parties for the UNCRPD in September, 2009 or at the Mine Ban Treaty Cartagena Summit in November 2009.
The need for this project in the Middle East, primarily due to the lack of sufficient and reliable information, was identified by disability organizations and advocates as a priority for strengthening their lobbying, advocacy and awareness-raising efforts.
The DMI has been, and will continue to work to carry out research and collection of disability knowledge, practices and statistics; In addition, a key component of the DMI will be dissemination and advocacy locally, nationally and throughout the selected countries in the Middle East region.
Partnerships
The DMI is a multi-stakeholder initiative, led by a Steering Committee of international and national NGOs and DPOs aiming to fill this need.
The DMI has been guided by the Steering Committee since its inception. In 2008 Handicap International (HI), CBM, and four national and regional level partners from Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt formed the DMI Steering Committee. This Steering Committee actively manages the strategic needs and activities of the DMI. It is anticipated that this involvement (and multi-stakeholder approach) will continue to expand by the inclusion of Steering Committee members from other countries targeted in the project such as Iraq, Yemen, and Syria.
The DMI has been guided by the Steering Committee since its inception. In 2008 Handicap International (HI), CBM, and four national and regional level partners from Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt formed the DMI Steering Committee. This Steering Committee actively manages the strategic needs and activities of the DMI. It is anticipated that this involvement (and multi-stakeholder approach) will continue to expand by the inclusion of Steering Committee members from other countries targeted in the project such as Iraq, Yemen, and Syria.
- Handicap International – HI (International)
- The Al Hussein Society for the Habilitation/Rehabilitation of the Physically Challenged – AHS (Jordan)
- The Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation - BASR ( Palestine/West Bank)
- The Lebanese Physically Handicapped Union – LPHU in (Lebanon)
- The Arab Organisation of Disabled People – AODP (Regional)
Project summary
The objective of the DMI is to be an advocacy tool to monitor and facilitate the sharing of knowledge on the ways local organisations, authorities, governments and international agencies develop and support reforms that promote and enable the full participation of persons with disabilities with a focus on Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.
The initiative will also provide ongoing training for key stakeholders and change agents to influence policies across the region.
The topic selected for the DMI for its first phase (2008-2010) is: “Access to Social Services for persons with disabilities”.
The topic selected for the DMI for its first phase (2008-2010) is: “Access to Social Services for persons with disabilities”.
Opinion
Rima Canawati, Head of Special Education & Community Programs at BASR, said: “We at BASR believe that the DMI is a powerful advocacy tool for influencing policies towards the full participation of persons with disabilities in the Middle East region.
"We believe that highlighting best practices towards inclusive development in the countries concerned will certainly motivate different stakeholders to ameliorate their own practices to ensure equal ensure equal rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities.”
